Please don't axe another evergreen

I went to Aimee Mann's Christmas show at the Guthrie Theater this week, which was a really good time. Mann isn't typically known for, um, joy, but she's got a great sense of humor, loves Christmas, and puts on a good show. Her Christmas variety show featured stand-up comedian Paul F. Tompkins; a short film featuring Patton Oswalt, Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Bob Odenkirk, and Weird Al (!); Morgan Murphy as the Hanukkah Fairy; Adam Levy from the Honeydogs; and Nellie McKay conversing with a toy reindeer.

Nellie McKay - A Christmas Dirge.

McKay played this at the show, and she's giving it away on her site. She does, however, request that you donate to the Nellie McKay Disaster Fund. No, seriously.

Nellie McKay lives in that uncomfortable place between funny and serious. I love that she can be both heartbreaking and hilarious, often at the same time, and this song is no exception. Plus, I've got a soft spot for sad Christmas songs.

Mann's Christmas show stops in Ann Arbor tonight, with additional dates in New York and Virginia. It really is a fun time, and (spoiler alert!) the show ends with a group rendition of "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)", complete with horn section and snow falling from the ceiling.

For more information, go here.